Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne-Chapter 197 - 165: Suicide by Hanging

The Ministry of Justice and the Imperial Court of Judicial Review jointly investigated the case of Kong Taichang’s youngest daughter’s suicide by hanging. After thorough investigation over several days, all doubts were dispelled, and the final conclusion remained suicide and not homicide.

Many cannot accept this outcome, but such are the facts.

Kong Taichang’s family could least accept the suicide of the youngest daughter. They would rather believe she was murdered, but the fact is it’s suicide.

The Emperor issued a decree to posthumously confer the title of County Princess upon Kong Taichang’s youngest daughter, and she was to be buried with honors befitting a County Princess.

During the funeral of Kong Taichang’s youngest daughter, the Princess Consort Dai personally attended the Kong Mansion to offer her condolences. She also invited monks from Hulong Temple to perform rituals for Kong Yao, lasting forty-nine days.

It is rumored that those who commit suicide cannot enter the cycle of reincarnation. The Princess Consort Dai asked the monks to perform rituals to send Kong Taichang’s youngest daughter to the Western Paradise, so even if she couldn’t reincarnate, she could become a Buddha in the Western Paradise.

Kong Taichang’s family did not refuse the kind intentions of the Princess Consort Dai.

Initially, Kong Taichang’s family suspected that the Prince Dai had sent people to kill their youngest daughter, as she had caused him considerable embarrassment before. Although the Prince Dai had pleaded for their family and personally requested the Emperor to annul his engagement with Kong Taichang’s youngest daughter, it was unlikely for someone like Prince Dai to return good with gratitude; he would certainly seek revenge. He had the strongest motive to kill the youngest daughter.

However, Prince Dai was not a fool. Recently, he had just pleaded for Kong Taichang’s family and earned public praise. It was unlikely for him to retaliate against them during this time, let alone kill Kong Taichang’s youngest daughter, or his reputation would be destroyed again.

Besides Prince Dai, the Crown Prince was also a subject of suspicion.

Many speculated that the Crown Prince ordered the killing of Kong Taichang’s youngest daughter to frame Prince Dai. But after several days of investigation, no evidence was found to suggest the framing of Prince Dai. Thus, the theory that the Crown Prince ordered her death didn’t hold up.

No matter how many speculations, no matter how many disbelievers, no matter how many refuse to accept it, the result of the joint investigation by the Ministry of Justice and the Imperial Court of Judicial Review is suicide.

Since the establishment of the Great Zhou, the Ministry of Justice and the Imperial Court of Judicial Review have conducted fair and just investigations and have never been corrupt. Therefore, even if officials found the death of Kong Taichang’s youngest daughter suspicious, they would not doubt the joint investigation result by these two bodies.

Kong Taichang’s family couldn’t accept the suicide of their youngest daughter, but the facts were undeniable, and they ultimately had to accept her suicidal death.

The death of the youngest daughter aged Kong Taichang and his wife by ten years instantaneously. In just a few days, their hair grew significantly grayer, and wrinkles appeared at the corners of their eyes and on their faces.

The elder brother, Kong Yuan, became much more solemn because of this.

"Yao Er probably lost the will to live a long time ago." Mrs. Kong’s expression was sorrowful, her tone full of guilt. "The day she said she wanted to return to Bodhi Temple to continue as a nun, she was already resigned to death. It was my negligence as a mother that I didn’t notice her state of mind." With that, tears flowed from the corners of Mrs. Kong’s eyes.

Kong Taichang waved his hand to Mrs. Kong: "Don’t blame yourself, it’s my fault, my fault..." Saying this, he was already in tears.

"It’s my fault. When I visited Yao Er a few days ago, I didn’t notice anything unusual about her. Thinking back now, her gaze towards me was full of reluctance; what she said was a farewell..." The word [farewell] was left unspoken. Mrs. Kong’s eyes were red and hoarse from crying these past few days.

Kong Yuan said gravely, "Sister felt she was a burden to the Kong Family and therefore..." At this point, Kong Yuan’s voice was too choked with emotion to continue.

"It’s all my fault. If I had arranged Yao Er’s marriage earlier, the Emperor would not have decreed the marriage... Yao Er would not have died..." Mrs. Kong sobbed uncontrollably.

"I failed as a father, unable to protect Yao Er."

Kong Yuan said resentfully, "If it weren’t for the Emperor’s marriage decree, none of these things would have happened, and sister would not have died..."

He hadn’t finished speaking when Kong Taichang reprimanded him, "What nonsense are you spouting!"

"Father, am I wrong? If it weren’t for the Emperor’s sudden marriage decree, none of this would have happened, and sister wouldn’t have had to die." The source of all this was the Emperor’s marriage decree. "The Emperor knew well that our Kong Family never participated in the battle for succession, yet he insisted on bestowing sister in marriage to Prince Dai as a Consort. To preserve the Kong Family’s reputation and to refuse the marriage decree, sister had no choice but to become a nun."

"Becoming a nun already ruined her lifelong happiness. What did it result in? The world mocked her for being ungrateful, blind, and falsely noble..." At this, Kong Yuan, overwhelmed with anger, contorted his face and clenched his fists tightly. He gritted his teeth and said, "Father, you once pleaded with the Emperor to annul the marriage, but the Emperor... If not for this, sister wouldn’t have become a nun... It’s all the Emperor’s fault..."

"And it was Prince Dai’s doing as well. If Prince Dai hadn’t clung to the marriage agreement, the Emperor wouldn’t have insisted on maintaining it either..."

Kong Taichang scolded, "Enough, don’t say any more."

"Father, am I wrong?"

"What do you intend to do, seek revenge against the Emperor?" Kong Taichang knew his son was losing his cool due to the youngest daughter’s death. "If your words just now were spread, do you know what the consequences could be? Do you feel the death of your sister isn’t enough, and you want our entire Kong Family to be destroyed?"

Mrs. Kong was already petrified by her son’s previous words. She stared blankly at Kong Yuan, unable to believe that her usually composed and calm son could utter such rebellious words.

The reprimand from Kong Taichang made Kong Yuan slightly regain his composure.

"Whether it’s thunder or rain, all are gracious benevolence from the Emperor. The Emperor’s initial marriage decree was an honor to our Kong Family. We were the ones unwilling to join the Imperial Family through marriage; it was we who slighted the imperial power. It was due to the Emperor’s benevolence that our family was spared and not held accountable." Even though Kong Taichang was engulfed in tremendous grief over the death of his youngest daughter, he didn’t lose his rationality. "If not for the Emperor’s magnanimity, our family would have perished long ago."

"I..." Kong Yuan lowered his head, speaking softly, "I just don’t want sister to..." Kong Yuan was already in tears.

"I know you’ve always cherished Yao Er. Her sudden suicide by hanging is hard for you to accept, but you cannot blame the Emperor for the previous marriage decree." Kong Taichang’s tone softened, not as stern as before, "Ultimately, this is my failure as a father for mishandling things, causing your sister to end up in such a situation. If you want to blame someone, blame me as her father."

"Yuan Er, the Emperor’s marriage decree was not wrong!"

"Father, I understand." Kong Yuan said he understood, but in his heart, he still harbored some resentment.

"Go rest for now."

Kong Yuan stood up, saluted Kong Taichang and Mrs. Kong, and then withdrew.

"Husband, what’s wrong with Yuan Er?" Mrs. Kong was greatly frightened by their son’s earlier words, feeling that he didn’t seem like the mature and steady son of usual times.

Kong Taichang’s brow furrowed tightly, and his expression became grave: "With Yuan Er’s disposition, he would never utter those words. I fear someone has said something to him."

"Husband, are you suggesting someone intentionally incited him?"

Kong Taichang nodded slightly: "Yes."

"Who?"

Kong Taichang shook his head: "I don’t know." He said he didn’t know, but in his heart, he already had a suspect.

"Husband, I think Yuan Er still harbors resentment."

"I will counsel him properly and ensure he is not misled by others." Seeing Mrs. Kong’s exhausted expression, Kong Taichang said tenderly, "My dear, you should also rest well."

"Husband, what about you?"

"I have matters to attend to."

"Husband, after you finish your tasks, make sure to rest well." Mrs. Kong didn’t say anything further and turned to leave the study.

After Mrs. Kong left, Kong Taichang called the steward in and instructed him to carry out some tasks.

After listening, the steward showed a surprised expression.

"Master, this..."

"Don’t let the Madam and Young Master know about this."

"Yes, Master."

"Go now."

The steward respectfully retreated.

Kong Taichang let out a long sigh, hoping things weren’t as he suspected.

If Yao Er’s suicide by hanging was as he feared, then things... he dared not think further.

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